Chapter 365
Chapter 365
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 365
Chapter Title: Gwan Yeong's Purpose in Coming to Seokmun
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Thud thud thud!
Yi Hwan raced toward Stone Gate like a gale. There was no need for the entire group to go together, so he had brought only his close aides.
His red-maned steed galloped nearly fifty paces ahead. Ju Tae and the others clicked their tongues in amazement at the horse's speed.
How long had they been riding?
The outskirts of Stone Gate came into view. It was a modestly sized city, but the marketplace was as bustling and vibrant as any other.
The clothing of the people coming and going was no different from that of the residents of any major city in the Qin Kingdom.
Yi Hwan and his group soon entered an inn in the marketplace. The fairly large inn was crowded with guests.
"The people of the Qin Kingdom sure take their clothes seriously. Where on earth does all that silk come from?"
To Ju Tae's remark, Yi Hwan replied calmly.
"With such massive mines, it's only natural that money overflows in the cities."
The Qin Kingdom's wealth was something Yi Hwan had always envied.
In truth, Yeon Kingdom's national treasury couldn't compare to the Qin Kingdom's. While its territory was vast, on par with Zhao Kingdom, the northern regions beyond Hebei Province were so barren that the population was sparse.
A short while later, food and liquor arrived.
Yi Hwan downed his first cup of liquor. As he filled his second cup, some men entered the inn.
Two men in white robes exuded an extraordinary aura. They took seats at a table behind Yi Hwan.
Until then, Yi Hwan paid them no mind. But soon, his ears perked up.
"Why has the Grand Minister of Works come to the mines? I heard he didn't step foot outside the Imperial Palace even during the Dark Heaven Cult uprising right nearby. Does he know something?"
"You know about the official document that came down a few days ago, ordering us to slow down mining, right? It's probably about that. There must be some reason they sent it."
"He's not thinking of breaking the promise, is he?"
"Don't talk nonsense. It's an agreement between nations—why would they break it? There must be something else going on."
"Yeah, you're right."
Yi Hwan was dumbfounded. An order to slow down mining?
[The Qin Kingdom side must be up to some trick again.]
[We'll find out if we check. Just eat.]
[Shall we interrogate those bastards?]
[They don't seem to know more than that, so let them be.]
Yi Hwan emptied his cup.
Clack.
'It's getting more and more disappointing.'
It was still unclear why such an order had been issued. But no matter the circumstances, ordering a slowdown in mining was something he couldn't view positively.
Moreover, the Grand Minister of Works was one of the highest-ranking officials overseeing state affairs, one of the Qin Kingdom's top powerholders.
So what could have brought such a man all the way here?
"Will Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince come to the mines?"
"How should I know? They might have sent the Grand Minister anticipating his arrival."
"Honestly, I'm really curious about him. I hear a lot of warriors who fought in the Zhao Kingdom war admire him greatly. Must be because he's that charismatic. Rumor has it the White-Clothed Sword God even fell out with Grand Marshal Won Gae-se because of Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince?"
"Is that true?"
"I only heard it as a rumor, so I'm not sure."
The two men in white robes continued their various conversations even as their food arrived and they ate.
The latter part was quite intriguing.
'If Baek Woo-kyeong has fallen out with Won Gae-se, that side must have a real headache too.'
A moment later, Yi Hwan set down his chopsticks.
Clack.
"If you're done eating, let's go."
"Yes."
* * *
Thud! Thud!
"Be careful not to load the iron unevenly!"
"The left side's empty!"
Yeon Kingdom soldiers were busily loading iron onto wagons.
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong watched the scene, furrowing their brows.
"The amount has definitely decreased. I wonder why. At this rate, it's going to take even longer..."
"It's been decreasing for three days already. I think we need to meet the mine overseer."
"Let's go."
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong headed toward the tent where Qin Kingdom warriors were stationed. But warriors blocked the entrance.
"This is a restricted area for foreigners. You can't go any further."
"We need to see the overseer, so please inform him."
"The general is too busy with urgent matters to meet anyone. Please leave."
Hwa Ryeong bristled at the warriors' high-handed attitude.
"Do you know who we are?"
"Of course we do. But rules are rules—don't make a scene."
"What? A scene?"
"Enough."
Go Mi pulled Hwa Ryeong by the arm.
As they returned to the Yeon Kingdom soldiers' area, she subtly hardened her gaze.
Hwa Ryeong fumed.
"Why are those bastards suddenly acting like that? They weren't like this until yesterday."
"A group of men and horses arrived at the mines last evening. It might be related to them. Calm down for now and wait."
"Those guys—are they deliberately slowing down the mining? It sure smells like it..."
"It's an agreement between nations. They wouldn't."
She said that, but in truth, Go Mi also found the situation suspicious. If unavoidable circumstances had slowed mining, they should have come and explained first, right?
Just then, a young Yeon Kingdom general passed by in the distance.
Go Mi hurried over and asked him.
"Do you know who arrived at the mines last evening?"
"I heard it was the Qin Kingdom's Grand Minister of Works. He just sent word that he wants to meet our side's overseer today."
"Today?"
"Yes. He said he'll come directly to our tent this evening."
"Thank you."
Go Mi furrowed her brow again.
'The Grand Minister of Works is here?'
The fact that one of the Three Dukes had come all this way made the situation seem even more fishy.
It was then.
"Huh?"
Hwa Ryeong's eyes widened.
Go Mi turned her gaze to where Hwa Ryeong was staring. Yi Hwan was entering.
Hwa Ryeong bared her teeth in a broad grin.
"I had a feeling something was off, and here you come right on time."
"Indeed."
* * *
Grand Minister of Works Gwan Yeong was receiving a report from a general. The report included the amount and types of iron handed over to Yeon Kingdom forces so far.
Once the report ended, Gwan Yeong furrowed his brow.
"You're selecting the highest quality and loading it?"
"Yes. They have an expert on iron over there. Even our master smiths can't distinguish it easily, but he picks it out like a ghost with one glance."
"And yet you've only loaded half the promised amount?"
"Yes. We had a good stockpile mined before they arrived."
"What about mining speed?"
"We've reduced it by about thirty percent since receiving the official document."
"Cut it in half."
"Half?"
"Don't ask why—just do as you're told."
"...Understood."
After the mining overseer left, another general approached.
"The appointed time with Yeon Kingdom is almost here."
"I'll have a cup of tea first."
"Yes. I'll prepare it right away."
Gwan Yeong sank deeply into his chair, his gaze steadying. A close aide cautiously asked.
"Do you think they'll accept it easily?"
"With the Radiant Faith Cult uprising and the Zhao Kingdom war hitting us back-to-back, we're critically short on iron for our own use. That's why His Majesty sent me here. Tell them they'll get half the promised amount now, and the rest later."
As he continued, Gwan Yeong's eyes suddenly chilled.
"More importantly, we need to figure out why Yeon Kingdom demanded iron of all things."
"Ah..."
Tea arrived. Even though the appointed time had passed, Gwan Yeong leisurely sipped his tea without rising.
By the time he exited the tent, the agreed time had long elapsed.
But he proceeded unhurriedly toward the Yeon Kingdom tent.
"By the way, that person is still at the clinic. The doctor says he'll need at least five more days, so you can take your time."
"You've got the children well secured?"
"Don't worry. We've surrounded the entire area—no rat could escape. Of course, they haven't noticed a thing. So, will you take him to the Imperial Palace?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince seems quite taken with him, so we probably should... but..."
Gwan Yeong trailed off, then gave a peculiar smile.
"I'll decide after meeting him. For now, we need to wrap this up here."
"Yes."
Moments later, Gwan Yeong stopped before the tent of the Yeon Kingdom general he was to meet.
Three men sat side by side on chairs in front of the tent.
In that instant, Gwan Yeong felt a very strange sensation.
'What is it? Those guys...'
* * *
Ju Tae, Kim Mu-gwan, and Park Ji-mun had been chatting idly in front of the tent. They fell silent upon seeing Gwan Yeong approach slowly with hands clasped behind his back.
"Hey, who are you?"
One of Gwan Yeong's aides stepped forward angrily.
"This is the Grand Minister of Works! Show respect!"
"Oh, really? So what brings you here?"
It was then.
"Bring him in."
Yi Hwan's voice drifted from inside the tent.
Ju Tae grinned and gestured for him to enter. Gwan Yeong coldly glared at the three men, offended by their arrogant attitude despite knowing his status.
"What are your positions?"
"What do you need to know that for?"
"...What?"
"And since when do you talk down to me?"
Kim Mu-gwan grabbed Ju Tae's arm. Then, with an awkward smile, he said.
"The Great Prince is waiting, so please go in."
"Did you just say... Great Prince?"
"Yes."
Gwan Yeong was inwardly shocked. He had no idea Yi Hwan had arrived.
Just then, the tent flap opened, and the Yeon Kingdom general he wanted to meet stepped out.
"The Great Prince is waiting, so please enter."
"Hmph!"
Gwan Yeong straightened his robes.
He shot another cold glare at Ju Tae and the others before entering.
* * *
Yi Hwan held his teacup and didn't even glance at Gwan Yeong as he entered.
"I am Grand Minister of Works Gwan Yeong. It is truly an honor to meet the renowned Great Prince like this..."
"Sit."
Cut off mid-sentence, Gwan Yeong sat across from Yi Hwan. Only then did Yi Hwan set down his teacup and look him straight in the eye.
"The war ended not long ago, yet here is the Grand Minister of Works, who should be the busiest of all. What brings you here?"
"I came to discuss the matter promised as compensation for our aid. Of course, it is by His Majesty's decree."
"The Qin Emperor's decree..."
Yi Hwan leaned deeply back in his chair. Even for a Great Prince, such an attitude before another nation's Grand Minister was extremely rude.
"Let's hear what the imperial decree entails."
"As Your Highness knows, our kingdom has faced the Radiant Faith Cult uprising and the Zhao Kingdom war in succession. We've suffered massive losses in weaponry, creating an unprecedented need for iron. Thus, we seek your understanding to provide half the promised quantity now as compensation for aid, with the remainder paid later."
"Is this the Emperor's will?"
"It passed unanimously in the court assembly as the consensus of all ministers, great and small. By our kingdom's laws, His Majesty has no choice but to approve."
Snicker.
Yi Hwan let out a scoff. It could almost pass for a sneer.
"So you've put out the urgent fire?"
"Pardon?"
Yi Hwan straightened up. He stared directly into Gwan Yeong's eyes and asked.
"What if I say no?"
"We can only humbly beg Your Highness to consider our kingdom's difficulties. What else can we do?"
His words were polite, but his eyes, expression, and true intentions were anything but.
As if Yi Hwan wouldn't notice.
'A guy who's never been defeated in his life.'
Yi Hwan had seen countless types like this. Empress Hong Seon and Yi Tae-ji were similar.
"You're not thinking we came to freeload, are you?"
"Heavens, no. From His Majesty down to all the court officials, great and small, we are sincerely grateful to Yeon Kingdom."
"It was a joke."
Thud!
Yi Hwan lightly slammed the table and continued.
"Given your kingdom's situation, we'll have to give it some thought. We need to discuss it."
"Then we shall wait."
"See you later."
At the dismissal, Gwan Yeong bowed his head and exited.
Yi Hwan gazed at Gwan Yeong's retreating back with a faint smile.
'You've picked the wrong opponent, Grand Minister of Works Gwan Yeong.'